Steel retainer



F. M. SLATER STEEL RETAINER May 29 1928.

Filed Jan. 14, 1928 I /-//5 ATTNEY Patented May 29, 1928.

UNITED STATES rnnn n. SLATER, or nAs r'o PENNSYLVANIA, AssIeNon TO INGERSOLL-RAND com- PANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION or NEWJERSEY.

STEEL RETAINER.

Application med Januar 14, 192a. serial No. 246,763.

Other objects will be in part obvious andin part pointed out hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portlon of a rock drill having the invention applied thereto,

Figure 2 is an end view of the rock drill and the retainer,

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation taken through Figure 2 on the line 3'3 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, and Figure 4 is a sectional view taken through Figure 3 on the line 4-4 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Referring to the drawings, the invention is shown applied to rock drill, only a pottion of the front head A of'which is shown.

A drill steel l3 projects with its shank C into the front head to receive the blows of a hammer piston (not shown) reciprocable in the drill. At the juncture of the shank C and the body portion of the drill steel B is a collar D which, the operative position of the drill steel B, may abut the front end of the front head or, as in the present construction. the bushing E in the front head, to limit the distance which the shank C may extend into the drill.

On one side of the front head A and prefera'bly near the front end thereof is an enlargement F having an aperture G which extends from one side of the enlargement to the other and lies in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of the front head. The aperture G is ofoblong cross sectional shape. The ends H of the aperture are of cylindrical shape and the sides J are preferably straight and parallel.

According to the present invention, means are provided for limiting reciprocatory movement of the drill steel B relatively to the front head A in order to insure the retention ofthe drill steel in the front head. These means comprise a yoke K which partly encircles the drill steel B forwardly of the collar D and sidearms L integral with the yoke K extending rearwardly along the side of the enlargement F. In the rearward ends of the side arms L are holes 0 to receive the ends of a pin P which lies in the uppermost portion of the aperture G to form a pivot for the yoke K. A rubber bulfe'r Q is disposed in the forward part of the aperture G to support the pin Pas well as the yoke K and toact as a cushioning medium for absorbing the blows against the yoke.

Suitable means are provided for maintaining the yoke in the operative position. To this endv ribs R are formed on the inner surfaces of the free ends of the side arms L to engage notches S in the ends of the enlargment F and onopposite sides of the aperture G.

Convenient means are provided for main taining the pinP and the rubber butl'er Q stationary in the aperture G. To this end notches T and U are formed in the pin P and the rubber butfer Q, respectively.

The notches T and U lie in the same longitudinal plane and register with a hole V extending in a longitudinal direction through the enlargement F. At one end of the hole V are formed internal threads Vi and the opposite end of the hole terminates in a tapered seat A bolt Y disposed in the hole V is threaded into the threads TV and projects beyond the front end of the enlargei'nent to receive a lock nut Z and a lock washer b.

Near the rearward end of the bolt Y is formed a tapered portion 0 which, when the bolt is screwed firmly into position, bears on the tapered seat X and due to its frictional engagement therewith serves to prevent a'ccidental displacement of the bolt unaffected by the vibration set up in the rock drill during its opera-tion-.- On theenlarged end of the tapered portion 0 of the bolt isa polygonal head ('5 to accommodate a wrenchfor tightening the bolt in the hole V,

In assembling the retainer on the front head, the buffer Q, may first be placed in positionin the aperture G. The yoke may then be placed in such position that the holes 0' in the side arms will register With the uppermost end of the aperture G and the pin P inserted in the aperture and the holes wherein it Will be held by thebulfer Q. After these parts have been thus disposed the bolt Y may be inserted in the hole and threaded down tightly so that the tapered portion Will be forced tightly against the tapered seat The lock nut Z may then be threaded on the bolt to further as"- sure against unscrewing of the bolt.

In the operation of the retainer, the ribs R will be in engagement with the notches S in the enlargement and in this Way the retalner Will be held in retamnig position. Whenever it is desired to change the drill steel, the retainer may be oscillated about the pin P for a distance sufiicient to remove the yoke K out of the path of the collar D of the drill steel. The drill steel may then be readily removed from the front head.

t After another drill steel. has been substituted therefor, the yoke may again be rocked to the retaining position wherein it Will be held by the ribs R due to their engagement with the notches S.

The present invention has been found to be an unusually efiicient means for preventing ejection of the drill ste'el from the front head, both With respect to the specific mode of operation of the retainer and also with respect to the manner in Which the retainer may be cushioned against the bloivs of the drill steel against the yoke.

One of the very favorable features of the invention is the manner in which the rubber buffer and the pivot pin P are held against endwise movement in the aperture. This is accomplished in a simple manner andthe means utilized for this purpose may be readily secured in position Withoutrequiring special. appliances. 7

Due to the peculiar construction of the bolt Y a heavy pressure may be applied thereto for the purpose of threading itinto the enlargement F. This is due to the fact Kill projecting into the holes to act as.a pivot that any strain to Which the bolt may be for the yoke, a rubber buflerin the aperture supporting the pin, ribs on the side arms engaging the enlargement for maintaining the yoke in the operative position, and means extending through the enlargement engaging the pin and the buffer for holding said pin and said buffer against movement with respect to the enlargement.

' 2. A steel'retainer for a rock drill, comprising in combination with front head and a collared drill steel, an enlargement on the front head having an aperture, a yoke for retaining the drill steel in the front head, side arms on the yoke having holes in their free ends, a pin in the-aperture projecting into the holes to act as a pivot for the yoke, a rubber bufler in the aperture supporting the pin, said pin and said buffer having notches in one side, ribs onthe side arms engaging the enlargement for maintaining the yoke in operative position, a hole in the enlargement terminating at one end in a threaded portion and at the other end in atapered seat, a bolt in the hole to lie in the notches for holding the pin and the buffer against movement With respect to the enlargement, and a tapered portion on the bolt cooperating with the tapered seat for holding the bolt against displacement.

3. A steel retainer for a rock drill, comprising in combination With afront head i and a collared drill steel, an enlargement on the front head having an aperture, a-yoke for retaining the drill steel in the fronthead, side arms onthe yoke havingholes in their free, ends, a pin in the aperture projecting into the holes to act as a pivot for the yoke, a rubber buffer in the aperture supporting the pin, said pin and said buffer having notches in one. side, ribs on the side arms engaging the enlargement for maintaining the yoke in operative position, a hole in the enlargement communicating With the aperture and having a threaded portion, a tapered seat in the hole, a bolt in the hole lying in the notches forholding the pin and the buffer against movement with respect to the enlargement, a tapered portion on the bolt frictionally engaging the tapered seat for holding the bolt against displacement, and a lock nut on the end of the bolt bearing against the end of the enlargement.v i p I In testimony whereof I have vsigned this specification. 1 f 

